[Photo: Mr Azmin Ali's (left) appointment as PKR Sabah chief riled local leaders. Following
that, another Anwar loyalist, instead of vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan (right), was picked to replace him.]

WHEN opposition supporters in Malaysia dream of a triumphant takeover in Putrajaya, one inconvenient electoral fact always intervenes: The ruling Barisan Nasional has long been able to count on a solid bloc of parliamentary seats from East Malaysia.

That is why Anwar Ibrahim's attempted surge into Sabah and and Sarawak mattered.

Unfortunately, that drive by his Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) now appears to be retreating like the approach of low tide.

In Sabah state, open revolt has broken out - and many fingers are pointed at Anwar himself.

Lawyer Haris Ibrahim, writing on the popular website People's Parliament, slammed him for wanting a Muslim as PKR chief in Sabah - supposedly because it is a Muslim-majority state - although PKR is meant to transcend race or religion.

But many think the slide really began when he handed the PKR Sabah chairmanship to his controversial acolyte, then vice-president Azmin Ali. The latter's allegedly "conceited and arrogant style" saw local leaders demand that he be replaced.

"What Azmin wants, Azmin gets," alleged former Anwar associate K. S. Nallakarupan, who now leads his own party and is critical of Anwar.

"It is a known fact among Anwar's inner circle since his days in government that Azmin enjoys very special attention and care from Anwar."

When Anwar finally shuffled the deck, making Mr Azmin head of the Federal Territory wing instead, he picked another loyalist, Mr Ahmad Thamrin Jaini.

In doing so, he bypassed several PKR stars, most obviously PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan, who is one of two who have quit their posts in disgust.

At least 15 PKR divisions, whose leaders had openly demanded that Dr Jeffrey be made PKR Sabah chief, are likely to follow him out the door if he exits PKR altogether.

Meanwhile in Sarawak, Ngemeh assemblyman Gabriel Adit was hailed as the man who would deliver the state to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Now, he has all but abandoned PKR and may form his own party.

Back in Peninsular Malaysia, Mr Azmin is said to figure in another setback, with star PKR recruit Zaid Ibrahim now on six months' leave. He is said to have lost a tussle with Mr Azmin for Anwar's confidence.

Datuk Zaid is the man tasked with coming up with a framework to unite the three parties in the PR coalition that PKR is part of. If he switches parties, it would be a bitter loss, as he is sometimes seen as a potential prime minister.

PKR's coalition partner, the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), is also undergoing internal turmoil. Its leaders have just decided to probe a controversial Selangor state chief who has alienated non-Muslims by backing a partial ban on alcohol.

Still, PAS could never have made headway in East Malaysia. Now, it is increasingly unlikely that PKR will either.